Surgery

Surgery is one of the main treatments for many cancers. If you are having surgery, this information will help you understand what to expect before, during and after surgery.

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What is surgery?

Surgery is a way to remove cancer from the body or repair a part of the body affected by cancer. It usually involves cutting into the body.

Common questions about surgery

Find answers to questions such as when is surgery used for cancer and how is surgery done?

For your community

Your health care team

Learn about the people who will care for you before, during and after surgery.

Making treatment decisions

Learn about how to make the right treatment decisions for your own situation.

Cancer surgery

Learn about some types of surgery used to diagnose, stage and treat cancer.

Planning and preparation

Although each person’s situation is different, here is a general overview of what may happen before surgery and how you can prepare yourself.

The day of the surgery

Find out what may happen on the day of the surgery, from being admitted to hospital and having an anaesthetic, to possible complications of surgery.

Recovery after surgery

After every surgery there is a period of recovery. Find out what happens when you wake up after surgery and how to take care of yourself at home when you leave hospital.

Looking after yourself

Cancer can cause physical and emotional strain, so it’s important to look after your wellbeing.

Caring for someone having surgery

If someone you care about is having surgery to treat cancer, it could be an anxious and uncertain time for you too.

Life after treatment

For most people, the cancer experience doesn’t end on the last day of treatment. Life after cancer treatment can present its own challenges.

Questions for your doctorAsking your doctor questions will help you make an informed choice. You may want to include some of the questions below in your own list.

Print these questions

Information about the surgeon

Do you work in a multidisciplinary team (MDT)?
Do you specialise in this type of surgery? How were you trained?
How many times have you done this surgery?
Which hospitals do you operate in?

Treatment choice

Why do I need surgery?
Are there other treatment choices for me?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of surgery for me?
How successful is this type of surgery for this type of cancer?
Are there clinical practice guidelines on how to treat this type of cancer?
How much does the surgery cost? Are there any out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Medicare or my private health cover?
Are there extra costs I should know about, such as costs related to anaesthesia?
Can the cost be reduced if I can’t afford it?
Can I get a second opinion?
How long do I have to make a decision?
Will I need other treatment before or after surgery?
Are there any clinical trials or research studies I could join?

The surgery

How can I prepare myself for surgery and improve my recovery?
What type of surgery will I have (e.g. open surgery or keyhole surgery)?
What exactly will you do during the operation? Will you remove part of the tumour or all of the cancer?
How long will the surgery take?
Could your plans for the surgery change? Why?
What anaesthetic will I receive? How will it be given?
When will I meet the anaesthetist?
What are the potential risks and complications of the surgery?
Will I need a blood transfusion?
Where will I have the surgery?
How will we know if the surgery was successful?

Side effects and recovery

What are the side effects of the surgery (e.g. will it affect my mobility, diet, ability to work, fertility, sex life)? What are the long-term impacts?
Will I have tubes and drains?
Will I have a lot of pain? What will be done about this?
How long will I be in hospital? How long will it take to recover?
Will I need rehabilitation? Will I have it as an inpatient or outpatient?
When I go home, will I be given written information about my after-care?
What kind of support is available to people who have this type of surgery?
Are there any complementary therapies that might help me?

Before leaving hospital

Will the stitches need to be taken out or will they dissolve?
Will the wound dressing need to be changed? Who will do this?
Can I eat my usual diet?
What problems should I look out for when I go home?
Who should I call if I have a problem?
How often will I need check-ups?
Can I have a shower or bath?
When do I need to see my surgeon for a follow-up?
When can I go back to work? How soon can I do my usual activities (e.g. exercise, housework, driving)?
What medicines do I need to take?

Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions

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Call 13 11 20 to talk to a health professional Or email us your questions.

This information was last updated in May 2023. See who reviewed this content.

Prof Elisabeth Elder, Specialist Breast Surgeon, Westmead Breast Cancer Institute and University of Sydney, NSW; Chanelle Curnuck, Dietitian – Dietetics and Nutrition, Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group, WA; Department of Anaesthetics, Perioperative Medicine and Pain Medicine, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Jessica Feeney, Nurse Unit Manager, Breast, Endocrine and Gynaecology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, SA; A/Prof Richard Gallagher, Head and Neck Surgeon, Director of Cancer Services and Head and Neck Cancer Services, St Vincent’s Health Network, NSW; John Leung, Consumer; Rohan Miegel, Senior Physiotherapist – Cancer Care, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; A/Prof Nicholas O’Rourke, University of Queensland and Head of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Royal Brisbane Hospital, QLD; Lucy Pollerd, Social Worker, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Suzanne Ryan, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Department of General Surgery, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, QLD; Rebecca Yeoh, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland.

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